Warning after Waikato hiker found dead near Mt Pirongia

A Waikato man was understood to be scouring the Pirongia Forest for a "rock structure" before he died. 

Searchers found the body of Richard Shaw, 44, in a stream system on November 9, five months after he went missing in June. 

Ahead of peak-tramping season, police are urging other hikers to not underestimate the "hostile" forest and mountains of Waikato. 

Finding Shaw was a good result after a complex five-month search, Search and Rescue Senior Sergeant Vince Ranger said. 

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Searchers focused on an area of about eight square kilometres, combing through "difficult" vegetation to check every square metre. 

"If a person sat down, he's sitting down in less than a square metre. So to find somebody who is either unconscious or deceased, you're looking at say a million square metres per square kilometres." 

Shaw had been reported missing on June 6. 

"It was a difficult search because we didn't become aware Mr Shaw was a missing person until almost 10 days after he actually was last seen.

"He needed to be found ... It took a lot of work by a lot of good people to achieve that result." 

Shaw had travelled some distance away the Mahaukura Track, Ranger said. Inquiries revealed Shaw was probably looking for bluffs off the Mahaukura Track.

"He had a particular [rock] structure he was looking for there ...  Whether he found that or not I'm not too sure.

"He was found in a stream system, where he ultimately had died." 

Ranger couldn't comment on cause of death, as the matter was before the coroner. 

Pirongia is one of many environments in the Waikato underestimated by many of those hiking it, Ranger said. 

"It is a hostile environment, the terrain is particularly difficult. Pirongia is a volcanic mountain and the consequence of that is you do have very steep bluffs.

"We don't live in an alpine area, but the environment in the bush in the Waikato still carries risks with it." 

Ahead of summer, Ranger urged people to enjoy the outdoors, but to plan their hikes carefully. 

While a cellphone is good to carry, bad reception and short battery life means they shouldn't be relied upon, he said. 

And all walkers should carry equipment that will help them survive the night, including torches, emergency blankets, food and water. 

Another issue is hikers underestimating the length of time it takes to get from one place to another, even on the full tracks. 

"Give yourself enough time to get in, enjoy the environment and get out again.

"But also enough time in case things go wrong."

 Stuff